Monday, February 27, 2017

Sporting Waive Joya and Volesky

Sporting Kansas City announced two roster moves today ahead of the March 1st roster compliance deadline, announcing that the club has waived midfielder Benji Joya and forward Christian Volesky. While both moves are a little surprising, neither move is that surprising.

Joya had been a roster freeze deadline signing back in the 2016 season, he didn't appear in a single league game for Sporting, but did appear in the club's 3-1 win over Central FC in the CONCACAF Champions League. The former US youth international had spent time in Mexico as well, but while showing flashes in the game against Central and in preseason he also had some moments of struggles, like the second goal in KC's 6-2 loss to New England where a poor pass by Joy led to the Revolution's counter where Joya got burned by Juan Agudelo.

Volesky becomes the second player in two years to sign for Sporting KC in the offseason, only to be waived in the same offseason. He joins James Marcelin, who was signed last offseason but waived before the 2016 season started. Of KC's two forward signings from the USL this offseason, Volesky actually seemed like the less likely of the two to be waived, Volesky appeared in four of KC's six preseason games, starting one. Meanwhile, Cameron Iwasa appeared in just one preseason game for KC.

The two roster moves leave Sporting KC with 26 players under contract currently for the 2017 season, with one of those 26, Diego Rubio, likely to start the season on Injured Reserve, leaving KC with 25 healthy players.